Vedic Astrology is a part of Astronomy. It starts where Astronomy ends. The planets that revolve around the sun create a grave impact on the lives of people on the earth as well.
For understanding an individual’s horoscope, the 9 zodiac planets form the single most important criteria. But it depends majorly upon where these planets are placed in relation to each other.
Some of the very basic matters in life which are defined by planets are
- Happiness in an individual’s married life
- How many children would a couple have
- What is the career that a person would pursue
Alternately, each of the planets also symbolizes some very important things in life.
Just as an example, Venus planet in astrology is the symbol of love and when well placed, it brings about love and happiness in a person’s life. In the same way, if the planet Venus is associated with malefic planets, or if it is placed in a house which is not lucrative, some challenges in one’s love life are likely.
Let us run through some of the very basic ways of figuring out planetary strength. These are by no means comprehensive but still would give us a great degree of idea regarding how a particular planet would affect us positively or negatively.
A host of other factors also come into play and these would include aspect and conjunction of other planets, and also the particular Nakshatra wherein the planet is placed.
But the following would be the basic ways of accessing the strength of a planet.
BENEFIC AND MALEFIC PLANETS
In a very general way, Moon, Venus, Jupiter and Mercury are considered benefic planets
While Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu are considered as malefic planets
But each planet is possessed with its own qualities and being benefic and malefic has a lot to do with the placement of the planet in one’s horoscope.
FAVORABLE AND UNFAVORABLE HOUSES
In Vedic Astrology, houses too are divided as favorable and unfavorable.
Planets placed in houses 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 10 are considered favorable.
Similarly, planets placed in houses 6, 8, 12 are considered malefic.
The nearness of the planets, the general character of the planet and the placement of the planet in a particular House of your Birth Chart, together constitute to its strength and weakness. Thus the planets on their own are not strong or weak and for that matter we cannot point one planet to be the strongest among all. If a particular planet is placed in the right house, it may enhance your life and bring all the riches, fame, glory and the things that mean the most to you, making it a stronger planet for you. In the same way, it is”One for Each”.
We will now define a few characteristic traits of all the planets that are considered when studying Astrology. The planets have a certain specific traits of their own, however, when it is in conjunction with other planets it might also get influenced with the other planets. The placement of the planets is thus of grave importance.
Sun: Sun is the atma (soul) of all planet and humans as well. It is the King of all planets and thus possesses various positive traits such as being a fatherly figure, has immense strength, holds self-respect, is just, and authoritative.
What the planet Sun overlooks is one’s physical health and vitality. So how an individual projects himself on to the world is really dependent on the planet sun.
When Sun is strong in one’s horoscope, the individual is very energetic, and Sun makes the individual a centre of attraction.
But is the Sun is weak in an individual’s horoscope, the constitution could be weak and the person runs the risk of becoming ego centric.
Moon: Moon is related to the mind. It acts as the mother of all, and imparts love, peace of mind, positivity and emotions. Moon is money. It also represents water and greenery. It is closest to the planet earth and thus affects us a lot.
The planet moon is the ruler of one’s looks and emotions. With the moon nicely placed, the individual is happy, and the moon brings about a higher degree of social and physical attractiveness.
This in turn brings about success in life, as a happy person would nicely integrate with others.
But this is in contrast with a moon which is not placed nicely, and could cause anxiety or depression, or even hardship.
Mercury: Mercury depicts Intelligence. People with a strong placement of Mercury in their Birth Chart are business minded, have better grasping power, can think logically, good in math, are agile and alert. It also represents speech and other business related to it.
Mercury is the fastest planet in the solar system. It rules our intelligence and also influences our ability to communicate.
With Mercury nicely placed, an individual is possessed with high intelligence. Mercury also gives dexterity since Mercury rules one’s hands as well.
Some of the traits of people who have the planet mercury nicely placed include an aptitude speaking, writing and teaching.
Nevertheless, if the planet mercury is weak or afflicted, this would negatively affect an individual’s abilities in these areas. This might even translate to a harsh speaking style at times.
Venus: Venus depicts love relationship and business. It enhances your sex life, lifestyle, and bring along money and prosperity of all kind.
While Venus is the planet of love, it also represents women in general. Venus symbolizes beauty art and socializing, and the planet basically stands for all good things in life.
When Venus is strong in one’s horoscope, it augurs positive for one’s marriage as the couple finds contentedness in their life and also develop an appreciation for arts.
But if the planet Venus in one’s horoscope is debilitated, it could lead some sort of disharmony in relationships. One may even face a difficulty in relating with others.
Mars: Mars depicts courage, bravely, technical and scientific strength and confidence. People with a strong Mars are great soldiers, policemen, engineers, doctors and related professions associated with it. It also represents land and real estate.
The planet Mars is the planet of atheletes. It signifies action. And with the planet Mars, we could come to know about how much initiative does an individual actually have to bring about changes in their life.
When Mars is strong, the individual is possessed with an ability to outlast his competitors. He is really possessed with the ability to get up and go.
But when Mars is afflicted, the person might end up being the type of an individual who fights too much.
Jupiter: Jupiter is known as Guru – the teacher. People influenced by Jupiter are spiritually intelligent and knowledgeable. Jupiter supports love, relationship, and travel. It depicts wisdom and education of the person. One is also inclined towards doing well to mankind.
Jupiter is a great beneficiary, and it symbolizes wisdom, religion and expansion.
The planet Jupiter also tells us about how much wealth would a person earn in his lifetime.
With a strong Jupiter in his birthchart, the person is likely to be a well educated person who is well to do.
Sometimes when the Jupiter is afflicted, material prosperity fails to follow.
Saturn: Shani is a hermit and depicts time old age, poverty and life. It is a judgmental planet, and the person with a strong Shani can do good in politics, business, and other such sectors that demands your self-confidence. One with a strong Shani is hardworking, self-empowered and successful in life.
Saturn is the planet of loss, but nevertheless helps us understand our limitations. It helps us recognize the matters wherein we cannot bring about a change.
Saturn is the ruler of discipline and hard work. It is about responsibility, longevity and loss that Saturn teaches us.
When one is blessed with a strong Saturn in his birthchart, you could expect the individual to be committed, and with a dedication to rules and traditions.
Nevertheless an afflicted Saturn could make one undisciplined, or even irresponsible.
Uranus: Uranus has all the traits of Mercury, however, it is much more forceful or severe. We can term it as the enhanced version of Mercury. It denotes extreme knowledge and intelligence, or extreme changes (drastic) that one can experience. It also denotes modern technology, hypnotism and black magic.
Uranus happens to be a mysterious planet, and signifies a phenomenon which is unpredictable or unusual. When Uranus is prominent in an individual’s birth chart, he pays a deep regard to his originality and freedom.
With the Uranus favorable, the intellect is sharp and the person is possessed with a desire to be unconventional.
Neptune: Neptune is the enhanced version of Venus. It denotes intuition, beauty and social life. It is also known for creating confusion in the house it is placed in.
Neptune, in many senses could be seen as the inverse of the planet Saturn, which is staunch and impassive. The planet is an idealist, but could end up being an escapist at times.
If the planet Neptune is balanced, the individual is renowned for his beauty or public image. However a Neptune not well placed could bring the person closer to illusions in life. He or she may even develop problems with drugs or alcohol.
Pluto: Pluto works on a mass scale. One might encounter big things happening to them (either good or bad). It is a recently discovered planet. It relates to mass, social and spiritual life, and political events.
The planet Pluto is known to magnify the effect of whatever planet it touches. While Pluto is associated with power, it does so in a way which is total or compulsive.
It is also known that the planet Pluto operates beneath the surface.
When Pluto is well placed, one exercises greater power over others and enjoys greater wealth.
But a badly aspected Pluto can cause misery.
Rahu: Rahu depicts the ascending north node and affects the moon the most among the planets. It bring name and fame, sudden changes, foreign travels to name a few. It also aids in healing diseases.
Rahu is the astronomical point, where the orbital path of the Sun intersects with the upper orbital path of the moon.
In general, the planet Rahu is considered to be malefic.Nevertheless when affiliated with benefic planets, the planet Rahu brings about success, and great riches as well. It could even pave way for refined arts or scientific discoveries.
But when Rahu is afflicted, it could cause malefic effects as well. This is vastly dependent on the planet it is most well connected to.
Ketu: Ketu depicts the descending south node and affects the sun the most. It is worshipped for spirituality and also works in favor of changing events, accidents and breaking relationships.
Ketu, just opposite to the planet Rahu is the point where in the orbit of the Sun intersects with the lower orbital path of the moon.
Just like the planet Rahu, Ketu too is considered to be malefic. But it could offer a very positive boost to an individual’s horoscope when it combines with favorable planetary configurations.
Planet Ketu is possessed with capabilities to bring people to the over worldly realms
All zodiac planets have their own significance in astrology and can take a person to Rags or to Riches depending upon their placements, their conjunction, the Zodiac Signs and Nakshatras. However, one may also lessen the ill effects of the planets to a certain extent by implements certain remedies. One may appease the ruling deity and surrender and may attain love, health, wealth, prosperity, abundance, and all things that mean a lot to you.